[Strong Language and Agression]

"Third place trainee Do Seohan... Congratulations!"

The trainee was sitting blankly even though his name was called.

After a while, he must have heard his name and ran out with a startled look on his face.

Grumbling.

Han Dawon looked back at Do Seohan, standing beside her with a very uneasy face.

His face, as young as his age, had an expression of bewilderment.

As if he didn't know he would be called.

I thought he was good at managing his facial expressions in front of the camera, it seems like he's still just a kid, no matter what.

Han Dawon smiled at the cute freshness.

"Do Seohan."

"Yes...?"

Do Seohan's hand holding the microphone trembled slightly.

The child who wasn't nervous during the grading was nervous today.

Han Dawon spoke with a smile.

"Shall we hear what the third-place finisher feels?"

Seohan calmed his flushed cheeks and nodded.

'I have to speak properly.'

It's an incredibly high ranking.

Compared to my previous grades, this is a ranking that jumped a whopping twelve places, and a ranking that can be called unrivaled among 34 trainees.

I can't just miss this opportunity.

There was a lot I wanted to say, so my words started to get scrambled.

"First of all... I can't believe it..."

Seohan took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

What should I say first?

I have always watched other top-ranked trainees in the top 10 give their thoughts.

I had never thought I'd be one of them, and I was even more surprised by the result I had achieved for the first time.

"I was worried a lot while preparing for this stage."

I did my best at every moment and tried to improve by pouring in everything I knew.

Still, I was afraid that the results would be different.

"I was worried that the people watch Inge my performance would not be satisfied. Actually, when I stood on stage... It was great to see the fans."

It was such an ecstatic moment that if I closed my eyes, a scene from the stage would pass through my mind.

I was confident again through this performance.

Even while struggling to somehow survive in a cruel survival game.

Even when I am physically exhausted and feel like I will give up at any moment.

"It's surprising, but... I think the stage is really fun these days."

I liked this job.

So.

"Even if I'm reborn, this is what I want to do."

Seohan shivered and clutched the microphone tightly. The heartfelt words resonated throughout the studio.

"A glorious ranking... I understand it means to work harder. Thank you!"

* * *

'21st place is... This is trainee Kang Siwoo. Congratulations.'

Lee Junhyuk boarded the last train in 22nd place.

If I remember correctly, trainee Kang Siwoo, who should have been eliminated in the first round, safely moved on to the next evaluation.

Is it because the Lee Junhyuk I know has the image of successfully advancing to the first ranking selection ceremony as a top 10 player?

For some reason, I felt a little strange.

Perhaps the future was changed by my intervention.

Someone was eliminated, and someone got one more chance because of it.

With a bitter heart, I swallowed the secret that only I knew.

"It looks like everyone is already packing."

"They're getting evicted one by one."

"Don't say it like that Haim."

A group of thirteen trainees was eliminated.

The chaotic atmosphere in the accommodation was unavoidable.

The next day, Lee Junhyuk was stuffing his luggage into the suitcase without saying a word.

Since he was the only one eliminated in our room, the rest of the members closed their mouths and quietly left.

It was to give him time to sort things out on his own.

When I was leaning against the wall in the hallway and sighing, Ha Jun-seo spoke to me.

"It's a bit unfortunate."

While working in the same group, he must have seen Lee Junhyuk's lowest point.

Even though the eliminated opponent was Lee Junhyuk, he seemed concerned.

I don't know how such a weak-hearted person would have endured causing trouble to other members.

An image I wish to forget flashed through my mind. Stardust's group photo was captured on social media—Junseo's face, with his skin missing.

"Hyung, eat well."

"Huh?"

Ha Junseo's eyes widened at my sudden worry.

There is no way for him to know what kind of future I saw.

I added it to make it seem normal.

"I... I wonder if you might lose weight later."

"Oh, because you've been having a hard time these days? Are you okay? I just have to change my body until the audition is over. It's fine."

No, Hyung. It's not about me. After that, things will become more divided.

Eat a lot now.

Don't drink weird 6-shot coffee or anything like that, but supplement your carbohydrates.

I couldn't bring myself to say those words out loud, so I kept my mouth shut.

"...No."

I'm sure you'll take care of it, Hyung.

Grumble-

Lee Junhyuk opened the door and came out, dragging a suitcase.

"..."

I thought he would glare at me outright, but he just avoided my gaze without saying anything.

That person with a personality breakdown who looks like he's about to start screaming and grab his collar at any moment is doing that when he's downcast. I shouldn't be surprised if the sun rises in the west tomorrow.

Although they say they are worried, they are not in a position to hug each other while shedding tears like in other rooms.

There was no need to do this, especially when the camera was turned off.

A situation where no one can easily keep their mouths shut.

Ha Junseo, who had remained silent, spoke in a calm voice.

"Bye."

Lee Junhyuk turned his head at that one word.

A few days ago, he was on the verge of grabbing you by the collar, asking if you were still human.

Well, it may sound different depending on the situation.

Unless Lee Junhyuk were a fool, he would have known that those words were not meant as a mockery.

Still, it can't be helped that it's awkward.

I looked back at Ha Junseo, who was hesitant, unable to continue speaking.

At that moment, Lee Junhyuk's empty gaze turned towards me.

It was the kid with the suitcase who spoke.

Is it because of his mood?

"I'm sorry."

* * *

An old building where Stardust Project filming takes place.

From the bathroom on the first floor, soft voices were echoing.

In the hallway, in the room, and in the practice room.

It was a place where trainees could breathe and talk comfortably in a space normally completely covered with cameras.

Of course, some people use such places a little differently.

"Kang Siwoo."

An extremely cold voice calling his roommate.

Kang Siwoo slowly raised his head while wiping his hands.

A dark face appeared on the bathroom mirror.

A creepy voice spoke as if in a whisper.

"Are you happy that you got 21st place?"

'Of course, I am.'

I almost got eliminated after the first evaluation, but I barely got a chance at the last round.

It was a cruel world of survival where the term 'almost' was not accepted.

I wish I had done a little better, but I just ended up as a loser whose face wasn't even reflected.

Swish-

Kang Siwoo turned off the faucet and wiped his wet hands with a tissue.

"...Yeah."

"Congratulations. I knew you would go up."

Kang Siwoo was about to say thank you but stopped.

Although he smiles as if he sincerely supports me, it's fake.

"But I didn't know that Lee Junhyuk would fail."

The smile disappeared from the guy's mouth.

"Didn't he push around at Dobbles Entertainment?"

"Maybe."

"I sucked up to him because I knew he could destroy others if I were next to him. It's pretty disappointing."

"..."

What on earth is he talking about?

Whatever it was, it seemed like something he, who was in 21st place, should not know.

"Anyway, thanks to him, you got promoted. Congratulations?"

The words were congratulatory, but it was an overt nuance.

Kang Siwoo sighed and fiddled with his cell phone in his pocket.

Someone who wears a smile and slyly drops curses.

A teammate that Kang Siwoo didn't want to get close to.

The other person probably thought the same thing.

The guy who approached high-ranking kids with a smile was especially cold in front of me.

It's as if he has a sense of entitlement.

'It would be best to leave before I hear more of his rambling.'

The moment Kang Siwoo was about to leave the bathroom.

"But you don't have the chance of debuting."

"What?"

"You know that, right?"

It was a program full of trainees who flew and crawled.

Kang Siwoo glared at the bathroom mirror and frowned.

Deep black eyes. A face with a cold expression that resembles a husky.

It was a visual that would be in great demand among those who liked this style, but I lost confidence among other trainees who felt like they had a halo just by walking around.

Vocals, performance, and rap.

A B-grade trainee who is just in an ambiguous position.

I thought that I was far from debuting, but hearing such blatant disregard is a different story.

"Hey."

Just as Kang Siwoo's voice was about to rise, the guy struck him.

"I knew it. You should have done as I said. If you bring up something that'll spark controversy, it'll also spark attention."

"..."

"Why don't you just do it?"

Kang Siwoo gritted his teeth.

Like any other trainee, he is eager to debut, but some lines can be crossed and lines that cannot.

'I don't want to sell anything about this program or my family story.'

The guy let out a bitter laugh and spoke sarcastically.

"If I were you, I would just let it run."

"Why me?"

The guy who smiles so kindly at other kids.

'Why do you hate me so much?'

As if he had read Kang Siwoo's thoughts, the guy started.

"You have no earnestness. People with no advantages like me would have done anything to climb up. But you don't care whether you fall or not."

"Mind your own business."

"No. Can't you see? If you come out on this show and become popular, your old man' will let you debut and be proud of you."

"You don't know the first thing about me!"

Even though I'm the type of person who doesn't want to be involved, at some point, I became extremely entangled in a relationship.

Kang Siwoo stared straight at the mirror and pulled his hair.

"I fucking hate you so much."

"I know, asshole."

Individual trainee Lee Dokyung.

A candidate who received the H-grade at the first evaluation, currently ranked in the debut range.

A teammate that Kang Siwoo hated terribly.